Phone review: Samsung Galaxy S5

As one of the Virgin Mobile Handset Tester Team I've been trying out the Samsung Galaxy S5 for the last two weeks. 

I love this phone, and if your phone contract is up for renewal or you just want to replace your phone the Samsung Galaxy S5 is definitely worth considering.   Take a look at my review video below...

If you're interested in the apps I talk about in my review, my next post will be all about them and the other apps I use to manage my business and my life.




Disclosure:  Virgin Mobile Australia gave me a Samsung Galaxy S5 to review but all views expressed are my own.

Make your own robot

This is one fun app!  Tiny Robot Maker from Sydney based, Tiny Twiga Studios is a new app (released on 5 Feb), where you can create your own fun robots. 

How does it work?  You create your robot by combining different parts – head, body, antennae (hair), arms, legs, face, body decorations etc.  Each part is selected in turn by swiping it onto the screen and you can swap parts around as you are creating.  With all the different options you could easily come up with 1000s of different robot combinations.

Once your robot is finished it is saved in the Robot Gallery, which holds your 50 most recent robots.  From the Robot Gallery you have the option of printing it as an A4 full colour picture; a black and white colour-in picture; turning it into a birthday party invitation, a birthday card or a blank card.

Tiny Robot Maker is aimed at 3 to 6 year olds.  Although I think I’d stretch that a bit – on the day I downloaded it my 12 year old was home sick.  When I got home from work that afternoon his first words were “Mum, I found the robot app – it’s really fun!”.  He then gave me a tour of the app, which was interrupted by his 10 year old brother snatching the iPad so he could also have a go.  Of course, they then wanted me to try it - and it really is fun!  So don’t be surprised if you find older family members creating funny robots too.

Tiny Robot Maker is available for iPad and iPhone from the App Store for $2.99.  Also, good news – there’s no advertising and no in-app purchases.  

Techie Mum's Best Of's of 2013

A lot of ‘Best Of’ lists are appearing on the web at the moment, and they can be a great source of information on what has been happening in the world of tech over the last year; from apps you may have missed; which phone is the best to buy, to what was the best techie invention of the year.

I've put together a list on List.ly of my favourite Best Of’s of 2013.  You can even add to this list if you find a Best Of article that you think should be on my list. 

Techie Best Of's for 2013

View more lists from Margaret Perusich

Choosing a new mobile phone

I've been trying to figure out which mobile phone to buy now that my old one is starting to fail.  Luckily there have been some great articles written lately which are helping with my decision.  I thought you might be interested in them too…..

Choosing a new phone

How to pick your next Android phone from Lifehacker Australia

Mobile Phones Product Finder – a Good Gear Guide by PC World Australia

US readers:  How to buy a cell phone from PC Mag

Buying a mobile from ASIC

Smart phone reviews

Best 4G phones 2013 from TechRadar

20 best mobile phones in the world today from TechRadar

Mobile phone reviews from Product Review

Mobile phone reviews from WhistleOut

Compare prepaid and contract plans

Whistle Out – comparison site

Australia

UK  

The Best No-contract phone deal for each Australian Mobile Phone Network from Lifehacker Australia

Kidproofing shiny new tablets this Christmas

Today I have a guest at Techie Mum – Pia Argiratos from Powered Life.  Pia has important tips for you on looking after your valuable techie gadgets, some brilliant Christmas gift ideas, and some very special offers for Techie Mum readers……

Santa, in the form of Apple, Samsung and Google, is set to deliver loads of shiny new tablets and mobiles to people big and small this Christmas. It seems that the toughest decisions are whether to jump the shark and leave the iOS platform for Android, or whether to go for the mini tablet size versus the maxi, not whether to buy tech at all.

So much time is spent analysing and assessing, imagining and debating devices. Yet when the unboxing moment arrives, its sleek, seemingly perfect surfaces are, well, a bit daunting. “I don’t dare use it in case I break it” paralysis can be a surprise.

The value of a truly protective case or cover for your device can’t be overstated. Finding a case that genuinely protects your new mobile best friend from the trials of everyday life – drops, spills, kids – can be a challenge. So here are seven tips on what to look for.

Drop proof protection

Repairs for a tablet or mobile phone begin at $100 so investing in a case that gives you real protection from shock and impact is crucial when the device will be used by children. Hidden air chambers within silicon cases, and tough ABS plastic are just some of the solutions used by quality cases to give your device real life protection.

Screen cover

The screen is your access to the wonders of your device, so protect it and keep it free from scratches.  Inbuilt screen protectors are thick plastic screen covers so you will need to adjust to a slightly firmer touch, however the benefit in not worrying about sand grit under Junior’s fingers cannot be overstated.

Functional options

Consider your needs for using your device.  Will you be typing on it, so need a stand to keep a comfortable and safe posture? Need to mount your device on a wall to protect it, say in the kitchen? Different cases either include such options as standard, or can be added as accessories.

Waterproof Certification

When you are looking for a waterproof case, look for the industry leading certifications.  Military Standard 810G is a United States Military Standard used for drop and shock protection, while IP68 is a rating of Ingress Protection that categorises the degree of environmental protection against the invasion of solid foreign objects and water.

Brand name, brand quality

There is a reason why the big brands are well known.  Their cases are well designed, made with a quality approach from reliable materials.  They have warranty and information on how to use them that the rip-off or cheap versions don’t.  And most importantly they work.

Power it

Power hungry games can sap your phone of juice faster than Rory the Racing Car.  So having back up power on hand can save the day.  A small palm sized rechargeable power pack in your bag can give you the reassurance that you can recharge your full phone anywhere – never be caught with a flat battery again.  Another choice is a case with an extended battery built in, so one flick of a switch can see you recharge mid call, text or email.

Clean it

Cleaning your phone regularly to rid it of hand jam will help to ensure a longer life for any mobile phone or tablet.  Check the recommendations for your device or consider careful use of cleaning vinegar, rubbing alcohol or a good antibacterial cleanser.  Don’t douse your device, just dampen a soft cloth and give it a good wipe.  Check the ports for grit, clean them out carefully, making sure not to leave threads behind. Let it dry, give it another wipe. Let it dry and carry on.

Powered Life has kid-friendly iPad and tablet cases to help parents and schools extend the life of their investment in mobile technology. Powered Life partners with the best brands from around the world, including Otterbox, Lifeproof, Gumdrop, Trident, Incipio, Mophie and more. They offer a wide range of protective cases for tablets and mobile phones, plus portable power solutions – and more. All in one place, online at www.poweredlife.com.au.

Powered Life has an exclusive offer for Techie Mum readers on three of their most popular products.  These products can all be shipped immediately and you can be sure that they will arrive by Christmas.  (Move to the bottom of this article to see the exclusive offer)

iGuy Tough Case for iPad     $45

·       Fits all iPads

·       Kid-tested. With its flexible foam construction the lightweight iGuy is the perfect iPad partner for families with young children.

·       Free-standing. For cartoon hour the iGuy stands at attention—while it holds your iPad—offering a convenient viewing angle for short people.

·       Plays nice with all iPads. iPad 2, 3 or 4? Original iPad? 

      No problem. The iGuy holds ‘em all.

·       Squeezeable. The iGuy’s little arms and soft foam make it easy—and even fun—to hold.

·       Available in Chilli Pepper (red), Grape, Lime and Mango

Also available for iPad Mini

Trident Kraken AMS for iPad 2/3/4     $75

·       Shock-absorbing silicone.

·       Hardened polycarbonate plastic shell.

·       Built-in screen protector.

·       Dust covers over microphone and speaker bays.

·       Silicone plugs over port openings.

·       Accessorise with A.M.S. attachments including AMS Media Stand (optional extra $19).

Available with trim colours of: Black, Blue, Pink, Green, Red. Also available for iPad Mini.

Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5    $95

·       Ultra-thin, 1500mAh protective battery case made for iPhone 5.

·       Helium is engineered with edge-to-edge protection and outfitted with 80% more battery life to keep your iPhone 5 safe and charged.

·       Talk Time - up to additional 6 hours on 3G

·       Internet Use - up to additional 6 hours on 3G, Up to additional 6 hours on LTE, Up to additional 7 hours on WiFi

·       Audio Playback - up to 30 hours

     Video Playback - up to 7 hours

Here’s the special deal: 

• Buy 2 iGuys OR Trident cases (iPad or iPad Mini), get 1 free! 

          (when ordering, in the comments box note what the free one is, iPad or iPad

            Mini and preferred colour)

• Buy Mophie Juice Pack Helium, get a free iGuy Case for iPad

Just mention Techie Mum in the comments box at Checkout to get these great deals.

Combat Creatures Toy Review

How would you like a giant spider crawling around your house shooting poisonous darts at anyone who got in its way?  OK, maybe not poisonous darts!  If your kids like Nerf gun battles they are going to love this new toy.

Combat Creatures Attacknids are the winner of the Australian Toy Association's Best Boys Toy of the year for 2013 and my sons were lucky enough to be given one to play with and try out.  

These remote controlled six-legged robot spiders stand 25 cm tall and are available in three different designs.  Each robot comes with its own weapon system and ammunition, but they are interchangeable between each.  The blue Stryder that my boys had comes with Snypa Dart Blasters (just like Nerf darts), while red Doom Razor and Attacknid have Dissector Disc Blasters.

When we first unpacked Stryder I was thinking – great, I’ll be the one controlling this thing, it’s going to take ages for the boys to figure it out!  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The control pad is very easy to use – especially if your child has used a game pad before. 

All we had to do to set it up after unpacking was to put its armour on the legs and attach the weapon system – a few quick clicks and it was done.  By the time I’d picked up the packaging the boys had it going.  First target was their father who was asleep on a lounge in the next room.  The boys had no trouble manoeuvring around furniture and other obstacles to position it for attack.  They were able to control the Combat Creature from quite a distance away so it could all be done out of sight.   Once in position the dart blaster was rotated and angled into position from the remote control, and then a press on the fire button started the darts firing.  The rain of darts on his head and body definitely woke their victim. 

The boys then decided they needed more room, so Stryder went out into the back yard.  No terrain is a problem, they had it moving easily on floor boards inside, wooden decking outside, concrete pavers, and dirt and grass.  The only time it struggled was up a hill in the back yard – but they just put it into reverse and tried a different route.  The battle of the backyard then commenced.  They took turns controlling Stryder, while the other attacked it with an array of Nerf guns.  The aim is to hit the Attacknid’s leg armour, which pops off easily when hit, or the Battle Brain target, and after three direct hits the Battle Brain shuts down – no arguments over whether it was hit or not.  The darts can shoot up to 10 metres, although they have more force if aimed at a target about five metres away.  My boys got so good at aiming that the trampoline became the fort to get away from Stryder’s attack.

If you had two Combat Creatures you could have a great battle attacking each other, but even with just one (and some Nerf guns) my sons had a great time.  For playing on their own, or as a target shooting competition there’s also a Battle Diorama that comes in the box with 5 targets. 

Each Combat Creature comes with colour co-ordinated leg armour and stickers that you can use to personalise your robot.  You can also buy extra ammunition so you never run out, and alternative ammunition if you feel like a change.

Best age for a Combat Creature?  From 6 years up - this is the kind of toy that any age will have fun with.  My sons' 30 year old cousin was very keen for a go too!

My sons’ verdict on Combat Creatures…

Aaron (12) – The Combat Creature is a lot of fun and very enjoyable.  It is great fun to play with and the controls are very simple to use.  Although it has its disadvantages: the controls may be easy but they can be a bit slow to react.  It is loud which can give away its location.  Also, it’s hard to shoot a moving object, such as a person.  It is more fun when you are shooting at the creature than when you are controlling it.  Though, overall, it is a very fun toy and even with its price it is a great experience to play, to have fun with and can be a toy that you enjoy for a long time.

Danny (9) – It’s very fun to play with.  I couldn't coax any more details than that – except that he wants one for Christmas!

Combat Creatures are available now in most toy stores and I've seen them on special in some – Target had them at $99 last week - normally $139.    Don’t forget to buy batteries too – 4 x AAs for the Combat Creature, and 2 x AAs for the remote control.

Take a look at the our short video in the backyard here and the Combat Creatures video here

Disclosure:  I was sent a Combat Creature for my sons to play with and review.  All views stated are my own and my sons.  

Eve's Power Bank

Today is the start of my 2013 Christmas Techie Gift Guide.  Twice each week until Christmas I will be reviewing and writing about products that I consider would make good Christmas presents - with a techie flavour.

Eve's Power Bank

Our smartphones and tablets have now eliminated so many other things that used to fill up our handbags – notepad, diary, address book, camera, MP3 player, books; and we rely on them for so many tasks – our phones are no longer just for making calls and sending texts.  There is one glitch in our reliance on our mobile devices – battery power.  If we forget to charge them occasionally we can be ‘stranded’ – out of touch & out of reach.  Even if you do remember to plug it in to charge; have you ever left the house without your phone because you forgot it was plugged in charging?   I do it all the time, I mean – I DID it all the time – but not anymore.  Look what now lives in my handbag! 

This is an Eve’s Power Bank – how cute is it? 

Eve’s Power Bank is a portable charger for your smartphone, tablet and most other mobile devices.  It has its own internal battery that can be drawn from to top up the power in your devices. 

The Power Bank can be charged up by plugging it into mains power using its cable connected to the USB port on a power plug (from one of my phones’ charging cables), or you can charge it by connecting it to a USB port on your computer.  Once it’s charged, pop it into your bag and you’re ready for the next time the battery in your devices gets a bit low.

Eve’s Power Bank comes beautifully packaged in a little box, which includes a collection of 10 swappable connector tips for just about everything you could possibly want to charge.  However, if there happens to be a device that there isn't a connector for, you can just use the cable that came with that device to connect it to the USB port on your Power Bank. 

To charge your devices you just connect it to your Power Bank and press down on the leaf on top to turn it on.  Then you’ll see what I think is one of the best features of this device – four lights indicate how much charge is left. 

Along the bottom edge, you’ll find three ports – one normal USB, one micro-USB and a special USB port for iPads.  Having more than one port means that you can charge more than one device at the same time.  With a full charge, my Eve’s Power Bank fully charged my LG phone, and my son’s completely flat Huawei at the same time, and there was still enough charge to top up my husband’s Samsung phone.  That was with the standard 3200 mAh capacity Power Bank, but if you carry a lot of devices, you might prefer the high capacity 6400 mAh. 

Eve’s Power Bank is very light, only 90 grams, and compact – just the right size to not get lost in your bag.  It also comes in six gorgeous colours – hot pink, pink, apple green, lime, sky blue and pearl white.  The higher capacity Power Bank is slightly heavier and a little thicker.

I've lost track of the number of times my little apple has come to my (and my family’s) rescue over the last few weeks.  No more hoping a phone will last until it can be plugged in – you’re not restricted to a mains power for charging when you have a Power Bank.  My sons are always using my iPad, which means I usually grab it on the way out the door and find that the power is about to run out.  Now I can just leave it connected to my Power Bank in my bag and give it a power top up.

Eve’s Power Bank is from Roaming Connections; an Australian owned and operated company who source stylish, practical and innovative technology solutions, including the largest range of power banks in Australia.  You can buy your Eve’s Power Bank from their website for $44.95 for the standard 3200 mAh, or $69.95 for the higher capacity 6400 mAh.  

This would be a great Christmas presents for anyone who uses mobile devices – so, ANYONE!

If you run a business, this could also be a great idea for a corporate gift – they can be personalised with your business logo, and it only takes about four weeks for custom printing, so there’s still plenty of time before Christmas.

A GIVEAWAY

Roaming Connections have very kindly provided an Eve’s Power Bank for one of you to win.  To enter you just have to 

• Like the Roaming Connections Facebook Page here 
• Like Techie Mum on Facebook if you don’t already
• Tell me, in the comments on the blog, which Techie related gift you would like to receive for Christmas

In addition to the prize, Roaming Connections would also like to offer my readers a very special deal.  Just use the promo code TECHIEMUM and you will receive a free iPhone5 to USB cable with any purchase from the Roaming Connections website.  Just click on the link below to be taken straight to the site and see the range

https://www.roamingconnections.com.au/products/cat/mobile-phone-power-banks-2

Disclosure: 

Roaming Connections provided me with one Eve’s Power Bank that I could trial and review, and one as a giveaway for my readers.   I will never promote a product on Techie Mum that I don’t really like.

Giveaway Terms & Conditions

• This competition is a game of chance.
• Submit your entry in a comment at the bottom of this post.  You don’t need a Google account.  Just sign in as anonymous and leave your email address.
• Like Techie Mum on Facebook here – if you don’t already.
• Like Roaming Connections on Facebook here
• This competition is open to Australian Residents only.  
• The competition is open for six days – from Monday 4 November 2013 to Saturday 9 November 2013. 
• The winner will be randomly chosen from those who have entered on Sunday 10 November 2013.
• The winner will be announced on Monday 11 November on the Techie Mum blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. 
• The winner will be contacted via the email address provided.  The winner has four days to reply; otherwise the prize will be redrawn.

This giveaway has now closed and a winner has been selected.  Make sure you follow Techie Mum on Facebook so you don't miss any future giveaways.

SmartOne charger

On the weekend I travelled to Melbourne for my nephew's 21st Birthday party.  I thought I'd take advantage of the travelling time to get some work done.  The trouble was, I was only taking carry-on luggage - so no laptop bag.  This was the perfect opportunity to see if my iPad could place my laptop (I'll save that for another blog post).

The big problem is that my sister is currently renovating her home and surviving with one power board providing electricity to almost the entire house.  For me, this meant nowhere to charge my devices, except at a rare moment when there was a spare spot on the power board.  And I did have a few devices with me - iPad, Bluetooth keyboard for the iPad, two phones (work and personal) and a camera.  There is no way my phones could last the entire weekend without charging – and I was expecting to take quite a few photos.

Just last week I found a solution - I took one other device with me - A SmartOne charger.

This little device can fully charge all my devices without the need for a power point.  All you have to do is charge up the SmartOne (it takes about 3 hours to fully charge via any USB port) and when you need to charge one of your devices just connect it to your SmartOne via one of the connectors that come with it.  You don't have to carry a lot of cables if you have multiple devices either - all the connectors you’ll need are cleverly attached to each other.  The multi-plug connector includes iPhone 4, Micro USB, Mini USB and standard USB along with an iPhone 5 adapter.  So you can charge most smart phones and tablets, digital cameras, video cameras, iPods, and more. 

My SmartOne ended up getting more use on the weekend than I had planned.  First, I used it to charge my Bluetooth iPad keyboard (I actually forgot that it requires charging - not sure where I thought it got its power from!); then my sister couldn't find her iPad charger so my SmartOne gave it a power topup; one of my phones; and my camera after I decided to video the speeches at the party.  

You can use the SmartOne over and over again – just charge it up and it’s ready to go again.  Another thing I love is that while your device is charging you are not attached to a power point.  SmartOne comes in seven colours - blue, magenta, black, white, green, yellow and pink.  It is very lightweight and small so you can easily pop it in your handbag and you’ll never get caught with a flat battery again. 

SmartOne is from Smarter Charger, a 100% Australian company, based in Adelaide.  You can buy SmartOne online for just $29.95 at www.smartercharger.com.au

Now that I'm home again my SmartOne will be living in my handbag, for whenever I forget to charge my phone - which is far too often.  

 GIVEAWAY!

Would you like a SmartOne?  I have one to give away.  All you have to do is leave me a comment below on this blog telling me of the worst situation you've been in resulting from having no charge in one of your techie devices.

Disclosure:  Smarter Charger provided me with one SmartOne that I could trial and review, and one as a giveaway for my readers.   I will never promote a product on Techie Mum that I don’t really like.

Giveaway Terms & Conditions

•  This competition is a game of skill.
• Submit your entry in a comment at the bottom of this post.  You don’t need a Blogger account.  Just sign in as anonymous and leave your email address.
•  Follow Techie Mum on Facebook here – if you don’t already.
•  This competition is open to Australian Residents only.  
• The competition is open for one week – from 2 September 2013 to Monday 9 September 2013. 
•  The winner will be announced on Wednesday 11 September on the Techie Mum blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. 
• The winner will be contacted via the email address provided.  The winner has four days to reply; otherwise the prize will be redrawn.

This giveaway is now over.  Congratulations to Tracy Heffernan.